JPH09138742A - Method and system for refining printing picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To successively display and refine print picture quality and to proofread a computer print picture. SOLUTION: A page driver 220 receives a picture having plural picture characteristics such as a color system, picture resolution and contrast and preserves it in a journal file 230. A user interface 250 can select the picture characteristic. A journal file processor 240 generates plural characteristic values based on a selected variable range for varying the selected characteristic. A rendering driver 260 generates the corrected version of the picture on the respective generated characteristic values and transmits the corrected version to a printer. The user interface 250 can select the preferable picture among the generated and corrected pictures. The journal file processor 240 preserves the characteristic value of the selected picture in a driver set value file. The picture can be printed by using the characteristic value preserved in the driver set value file 270 with the user interface 250.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to color print image processing. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for calibrating computer printed images by sequentially displaying and refining printed image characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The application of personal computers to printed images has become widespread. When a computer user creates an image such as an advertisement or poster, the user designs an element of the image on the computer screen,
The image is then transferred to a printer to create the image. The printer driver software program is
Functions such as image resizing, image rotation, and margin selection are used to resize image data and arrange pages. Many conventional printer drivers, especially those for many new color printers, allow you to adjust parameters such as color, resolution, and contrast. However, the actual properties of the printed image are not readily predictable because many factors contribute to how the ink will eventually dry on the individual sheets. Typical variables that affect the printed image are the coloring of ink dyes,
There are paper types, paper coating, humidity, temperature and color combination methods.

Therefore, an image designer generally prints an image and then reprints it to refine its image quality, thereby creating a desired design or effect. Moreover, the exact hard copy of the image is not displayed on the computer screen. The display device produces colors according to the RGB model. According to the RGB model, all colors of visible light are created by combining red, green, and blue rays of selected intensity within one pixel. The color of a pixel is determined by the ratio of red, green, and blue rays. On the other hand, the printer uses the CMY model to generate color. All colors of rays are made by combining cyan, magenta and yellow according to the CMY model.
Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the complementary colors of red, green, and blue, respectively, and are based on the rule that colors are specified by what is removed from and subtracted from white. In the case of a printer, the CMY model is used instead of the RGB model because ink subtracts color from white paper. For example, cyan is considered to subtract red from white light, whereas in the RGB model cyan is considered to add blue and green. Similarly, yellow absorbs blue light and becomes a combination of red and green in the RGB model. The surface coated with cyan and yellow ink absorbs red and blue and reflects only the remaining green. In fact, the green on the display is not the same color as the cyan and yellow on white paper.

[0004]

As described above, since the display device and the printer use different color models, it is difficult for the user to realize an optimal color system.

Based on the image color matching capabilities of each printer and variables such as dot per inch (DPI) and size of the particular image, it takes more than 30 minutes to print one hard copy. Therefore, when the conventional image processing program is used, the image quality must be sequentially refined by printing the image, correcting the image quality based on the desired result, and printing the image again. And wastes natural resources. Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method that facilitates the sequential refinement of image color schemes.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations and deficiencies of the prior art by an apparatus and method for sequentially displaying and refining print quality to calibrate computer printed images.

[0007]

The device of the present invention comprises a central processing unit (CPU) for connecting to a display device, an input device, a data storage device, a printer and a memory. This memory preferably contains a page driver, journal file, journal file processor, user interface, rendering driver and driver settings file. The CPU uses routines in memory to calibrate computer printed images.
The page driver receives an image having a plurality of image characteristics such as a color system, image resolution, and contrast, and stores the image in a journal file. The user interface can select one image characteristic and can select a range for varying the value of the selected characteristic. The journal file processor will generate a specific value for the selected characteristic based on the selected range. The rendering driver creates a modified version of the image for each of the generated characteristic values and sends the modified version of the image to the printer 180. The user interface can select a preferred image from the modified images. The journal file processor sends the selected image values to the driver settings file for storage. The user interface can print the image using the values stored in the driver settings file, and repeat the above process to set the value of the selected image to a finer range, or different characteristics. This process can be repeated to give

The present invention also provides a method for sequentially refining a computer print image by generating thumbnail images (reduced images) based on characteristic variable values. The method begins by receiving a computer printed image and a characteristic variable range used to generate the initial set of thumbnail images. One set of characteristic values is generated based on the number of thumbnail images generated in the characteristic variable range. For example, if the size of this set is 3 and the characteristic variable range is -50 to +50, the generated characteristic value takes three values such as -33, 0 and +33 within this characteristic range. The thumbnail image is created using each value for the characteristic variable. After multiple thumbnail images have been created, a preferred thumbnail image can be selected and printed from the set, or a preferred thumbnail image and a characteristic variable can be selected to create a new set of thumbnail images. When displayed next time, if the same property is selected, the generated value will show the range close to the value of the selected thumbnail image, thereby refining the property. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A computer system 10 in FIG.
0, which is preferably a microprocessor personal computer, such as the Pentium-equipped Epson Action Tower 8200 computer from Seiko Epson. Computer system 100 includes a CPU 120.
The CPU 120 includes an input device 110 such as a keyboard and a mouse and an output device 105 such as a CRT, which are connected to the CPU 120. Computer system 100 preferably includes a block of conventional random access memory (RAM) 155, a printer 180, a communication interface 185, and a floppy disk drive 190, which are also in signal bus 1.
It is connected to the CPU 120 via 15.

RAM 155 is used to store operating instructions and data that control and facilitate the operation of CPU 120. The operation instruction 160 is preferably R
Contained in the AM 155, and composed of a sequence of programmed instructions that, when executed by the CPU 120, enable operations by the CPU 120 on stored data. The printer driver 165 is a sequence of programmed instructions that the CPU 1
When executed by 20, the stored data is formatted and can be printed by the printer 180. The page image data 170 is stored data, and is waiting to be processed by the print driver 165 in order to be printed by the printer 180. The page image data 170 is usually formatted in page length blocks. The printer driver 165 is initially stored in the disk storage device 175, and the CPU 12
0 can be stored in RAM 170 before execution. The disk storage device 175 includes a spooler 177 for storing a document waiting to be printed by the printer 180. Floppy disk drive 19
0 can store the printer driver 165 on a removable recording medium.

FIG. 2 shows the printer driver 165 of FIG. The printer driver 165 is a program including a plurality of routines, and includes a page driver 220, a journal file 230, a journal file processor 2
40, a user interface 250, a rendering driver 260, and a driver setting value file 270. When printing, the page image data 170 is the CPU
The data is transferred to the printer driver 165 via the data bus 115 by 120. Page image data 170 is conventionally received by page driver 220 as a series of image portions. These image portions are sent to a print medium (paper) by the printer 180. The page driver 220 collects the image parts and puts these image parts into one page format for each page of one image,
Then, the formatted page image data 170 is transmitted to the journal file 230. The journal file 230 contains the formatted page image data 17
It is a set of drawing commands necessary to represent an image printed from 0 and page image data 170. Drawing commands include conventional pointers for programming subroutines that specify text font, object color, object size, object alignment, and so on.

Journal File Processor 240
Collects all necessary drawing commands from the formatted page image data 170 and the journal file 230, and collects the collected information.
Send to 0. The rendering driver 260 gives a drawing command to the page image data 170, generates pixel data, and thereby creates an image. Next, the image created by the rendering driver 260
When sent to the processor 240, the journal file processor 240 sends this image to the user.

User interface 250 is a programmed software routine that allows a user to view an image prior to printing and issue user commands related to special print options. . After scrutinizing the image on the screen, the user directs the rendering driver 260 to the spooler 177,
As a result, the printer 180 can be instructed to send an image. The user optionally uses the user interface 250 to access the printer driver 165.
Can be instructed to enter a color calibration process that allows for successive refinement of the printed image. This sequential refinement process includes printing one set of reduced images (thumbnail images) on printer 180 based on one set of characteristic variables. For example, a preferred thumbnail image is selected from the set, and a second set of thumbnail images is printed with the subset of characteristic variables associated with the preferred image maintained constant. The preferred thumbnail image is selected again, and the third set of thumbnail images is printed with the second subset of characteristic variables kept constant. This process is repeated until one set of characteristic variables has been determined and the refined image can be printed by printer 180. The determined set of characteristic variables is transmitted to the driver setting value file 270.

To render an image, the rendering driver 260 retrieves printer driver set value information from the driver set value file 270. The driver setting value file 270 is information for controlling image resolution, color information, driver setting values such as a printable area, and print image quality (that is, “draft”, “normal” or “high resolution”) as an option of the printer. Is included. The driver setting values included in the driver setting value file 270 control all the view modes of the driver 165 including the “initial”, “thumbnail image”, and “final” view modes. In the "initial" view mode, the journal file processor 240 collects from the journal file 230 selected settings information for the image, including the initial color scheme, the initial resolution driver settings file 270, etc. The information is transferred to the driver setting value file 270. Rendering driver 260
Draws an image using the initial driver setting value without performing image refinement on the printer 180 using the conventional image technology.

In the "thumbnail image" mode, the journal file processor 240 generates "thumbnail" driver settings and sends these values to the rendering driver 260 and driver settings file 270. The rendering driver 260 uses the thumbnail image driver setting value to create a thumbnail image of the image to be printed. This thumbnail image driver setting value is
It contains a minimum value "A" and a maximum value "B". The range A to B specifies the total area of a particular characteristic variable, which is limited by video and computer hardware. For example, a contrast having an A value has a minimum contrast and a contrast having a B value has a maximum contrast. In one embodiment, A equals -50 and B
Can be equal to +50 and 0 can be an intermediate contrast.

The six types of preferable characteristic variables included in the driver setting value file 270 are red bias, green bias, blue bias, brightness, saturation and contrast. Based on the RGB model, the red bias, green bias, and blue bias control the visible color of the emitted light. Luminance is the intensity or amount of light incident on a designated portion. In order to modify the brightness of a pixel, the RGB values are conventionally modified by one constant such that the ratio between the three colors of light is not modified. The richness or purity of a particular color is called the saturation, and the saturation is also R
It can be controlled by modifying the GB value. Finally, contrast is related to the difference between the whitest white and the blackest black in the video waveform and can be controlled by conventional methods of modifying the range of RGB values.

Journal file processor 240 modifies the value of at least one selected property. By changing the characteristic value and transferring the value to the rendering driver 260, the journal file processor 2
40 generates a modified set of thumbnail images for one image. By varying the two characteristic values within the selected range (R), the journal file processor 240 creates a two-dimensional array of thumbnail images. Initially, the selected characteristic is varied within the entire range from the minimum value A to the maximum value B. The size of the array, and the resulting increment between adjacent thumbnail images, is controlled by the matrix sizes X (max) and Y (max).
The matrix sizes X (maximum) and Y (maximum) are included in the driver setting value file 270. Since the preferable matrix sizes X (maximum) and Y (maximum) are both 5, 25 thumbnail images are shown in the array. However, the user interface 250 also allows the user to select other matrix sizes. The increment (IM) between adjacent thumbnail images is
It is preferably the same as the range B to A divided by the matrix size X or Y. Start value is A + IM /
2. For example, in a 5 × 5 array, when varied in the range from −50 to +50, the IM becomes 20 at 100/5, so the starting value is −50 + 20/2 = −40. Therefore, the values used for the thumbnail images are −40, −20, 0, +20, +40, respectively. Alternatively, the variable value of each thumbnail image can be determined using a different algorithm such as a logarithmic scale. The rendering driver 260 uses these values to create thumbnail images.

Journal File Processor 240
Determines the size of the thumbnail image by reducing the image so that the X × Y array of images is printed on one sheet. The larger the image array, the smaller the size of each thumbnail image. The preferred minimum size for a thumbnail image is about 2 inches (5.08
cm) × 1 inch (2.54 cm). Alternatively, the thumbnail image size can be reduced using a reduction factor.

The array of thumbnail images is sent to user interface 250 and printer 180, and the user selects a preferred thumbnail image from the array through user interface 250 and input device 110.
Based on the satisfaction level of the selected thumbnail image, the user may repeat the thumbnail mode for a new set of values based on the selected thumbnail image, or the “final”
You may enter the mode. In the final mode, the rendering driver 260 uses the driver setting value specified in the final processing time of the thumbnail image mode to print the refined image. If the thumbnail image selected by the user is not satisfied, the thumbnail image mode can be repeated and the modified thumbnail image
A second set is generated based on the selected images. The journal file processor 240 keeps the matrix value selected by the user from the first array constant and incrementally varies one or more other characteristic variables of the selected image to create new thumbnail image driver settings. Generate a set of. When generating the new array of thumbnail images, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8,
A new IM and starting point is determined. Based on the new set of values, the rendering driver 260 generates a modified array of thumbnail images. This process is repeated until a properly refined image is produced.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the driver setting value file 270 in FIG. The driver setting value file 270 includes program data including a conventional environment setting value 310, a conventional document setting value 320, and a driver setting value 330. The environment setting value 310 conventionally includes default parameters required for the environment that specify the page size, resolution, driver version information, imageable area, device capability, color mode, image processing mode, and the like.
The document setting value 320 includes a page margin, a printable area,
It includes information for printing a specific document including page layout and the like. As described above, the driver setting value 330 is
In addition to the manufacturer name and model number of the printer 180,
Printer options, color information (red bias, green bias, blue bias, brightness, saturation, and contrast), user interface options (window size, placement, pull-down menus or dialog boxes or not) Etc.) etc. are included in the information.

FIG. 4 shows a window 400 based on the user interface 250, displaying an array 420 of thumbnail images 410. The size of array 420 is 5 × 5, ie X (max) = 5 and Y (max) =
5 In this embodiment, the X coordinate indicates the brightness level and the Y coordinate indicates the red bias level.
The brightness value increases as X increases. As Y increases, the red bias increases.

As mentioned above, the increments are X (maximum), Y
(Maximum), and is determined by the range from R1 to R2 in which the characteristic variables of brightness and red bias are varied. Assuming the range of R1 to R2 is the preferred range of -50 to +50, the preferred increment corresponding to X is 100/5 = 20 and -50 + 20/2 = -40.
Start from. Therefore, the preferred luminance values in the array are -40, -20, 0, 20, and 40. X
For the thumbnail image in the = C row, image 410 has medium brightness (brightness value = 0) and various red biases. In the case of the thumbnail image 410 in the Y = 3 column, the image has an intermediate red bias (red bias = 0).
And have various brightness. Therefore, X, Y = C,
The thumbnail image 410 at 3 (value = 0,0) has an intermediate intensity and an intermediate red bias, and all surrounding images 410 have increments. The intensity values in the array start at -40 rather than -50, so if an image with an intensity value of -40 is selected, it is close to -40, ie R = -50 ~.
It will be possible to generate the next array with the luminance values varied over a new range of -30. If the starting value of the luminance value was -50, it would not be possible to reduce the luminance in the next array because -50 is equal to the minimum value A. The thumbnail image in the center column (that is, X = C) of the next array has the same luminance value as the selected thumbnail image, that is, the luminance value −40.

The user prints an array 420 of thumbnail images 410 to determine the preferred image. The preferred image is moved by moving the cursor to the preferred image 410, by lowering the mouse, or by inserting a character string belonging to the selected image 410, for example, "C2", in a dialog box (not shown). It is possible to select from the array 420 by using a selection method such as inputting. The user then determines whether to print the refined image 410 or to repeat the thumbnail mode based on the selected thumbnail image 410.
Can be ordered.

FIG. 5 shows a thumbnail image 41 of the page image.
6 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method 500 for generating 0. Method 500 uses matrix size X
Start with (maximum) × Y (maximum), and the definition of other parameters 505. Other parameters include which characteristic is changed when a thumbnail image of the image is generated, and a value range for changing each characteristic. A set of values for each characteristic variable is generated 510 using the matrix values and range. For example, the matrix is 3
If it is × 1 and the range of values for modifying one property such as saturation is from -30 to +30, the thumbnail image has an increment of 60/3 = 20, and a starting value of -30 + 2.
It is preferably modified with 0/2 = -20. Therefore, the saturation values in each thumbnail image 410 are −20, 0, and +20, respectively.

After the matrix values are generated (510), the page image data is read from the journal file (5
15) is sent to the rendering driver 260 with the set of values and parameters (520). Using the page image data, the set of values and the parameters, the rendering driver creates each thumbnail image 410 (52).
5). As shown in decision block 530, the data is read (515), transmitted (520), and each thumbnail image 410 is created by the rendering driver 260 (525). In the 3 × 1 example, the page image data 210 is read three times repeatedly (520) using saturation values of −20, 0, and +20. The rendering driver 260 provides the thumbnail image 410 to the user via the printer 180 (535).

The thumbnail image 410 is provided to the user (5
35) The user then examines the images 410 of the image array 420 and selects a preferred image from the displayed set of images (540). The driver setting values, that is, the values and parameters of the selected thumbnail image 410 are stored in the driver setting value file 270 (545). If the selected image requires more variability to produce a refined image, then the method 500 is repeated, as shown in decision block 550. If the setting values of the selected image are suitable for printing, the image is printed using these setting values in the printer 1.
Printed at 80, method 500 ends.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a two-dimensional array of thumbnail images 610, which was obtained in the first process of the method 500 according to this embodiment. As an example, two characteristics, luminance and green bias, are selected, limiting the size of the image array to 3x3. Assuming that the range of A to B is -30 to +30 in this example, the journal file processor 240 has an increment of 60/3 = 20,
And a starting value of −30 + 20/2 = −20. Therefore, the value for each property in the array is -20,
0 and +20. In other words, the bottom left image in FIG. 6 has a luminance of -20 and a green bias of -20. Luminance increases by +20 increments as it increases in the X direction (ie, rightward), and green bias increases by +20 increments as it increases in the Y direction (ie, upward).

The thumbnail image 610 is printed on the printer 180, and the user uses the user interface 250 and the input device 110 to select the preferred image 630. Assuming that the image 630 of B3 is selected, the driver setting value 330 has a luminance value of 0 and a green bias of −.
20 is stored. When the user determines that the image 630 is appropriate (ie, is sufficiently refined for its intended purpose), the image 630 uses the stored driver settings 330 to create a final image of appropriate size and quality. Printed in format. If it does not print,
The thumbnail image mode is repeated again for at least one newly selected characteristic variable. If the newly selected property is different from the previously selected property, the range and increment values are as per the above determined values (ie starting at a value of -20 and within the range of -30 to +30 with an IM of 20). Will be determined). If the newly selected property is the same as the property selected in the previous processing run, the range of values for image variation is adjusted close to the property value of the selected image. Examples of these two cases are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 shows a two-dimensional array 720 of thumbnail images 710 for the second processing. The user interface 250 and the input device 110 are 2
It produces a selection of two properties, namely a selection of luminance and a red bias. The brightness has been reselected and the red bias has been selected for the first time. The value for the previously selected green bias will remain constant at -20. Since the red bias is changed for the first time, the range of values for changing the red bias is the same as the range determined for the luminance and the green bias in FIG. However, since the value for luminance has already gone through the previous processing, the range and increment for luminance must be adjusted.

The range and increment for the second processing of luminance is the array 620 of the previous thumbnail image 610.
Can be obtained from inside. This bin is preferably equal to the previous increment and the median is preferably at the intensity value of the selected image 630. That is, the previous increment is 20, and the selected luminance value is 0. Therefore, it is preferable that the value range of the second processing is 20 and the central brightness value is 0. The new increment is equal to the new range divided by the number of increments (ie, new IM = previous IM / (X-
1)). Therefore, the brightness value of this array is -1
It becomes 0, 0, +10.

Again, the thumbnail image 7 of this second processing
10 is printed on the printer 180 and the user selects a preferred thumbnail image 730 using the user interface 250 and the input device 110. For example, when the thumbnail image 730 with the coordinates of C and 2 is selected, the brightness value 1
0 and red bias 0 are stored in the driver settings 330. The user can print the image, or it can repeat the thumbnail mode to create a new set of properties.

FIG. 8 shows a two-dimensional array 820 of thumbnail images 810 for the third processing. In this figure, the brightness and blue bias are varied to generate thumbnail image 810. The green bias is maintained at a constant value of -20, and the red bias is maintained at a constant value of 0. Similarly, since the blue bias is selected for the first time, the blue bias is variable in the range of -30 to +30 and the IM is 20.
Then, it starts from -20. Since the variable brightness is the third time, its range is the previous IM, that is, 10, and the central brightness value is the brightness value of the second selected image 730, that is, 10. Therefore, the increment is 10 divided by the total increment number 2. Value equal to 5 Therefore, the brightness for the third array 820 is equal to +5, +10, +15, respectively. The third thumbnail image 810 is printed by the printer 180, the user selects the preferred thumbnail image 830, and these values are sent to the driver settings 330. For example, if a thumbnail image with coordinates C and 2 is selected and it is recognized that this has been properly refined, the user can select the driver setting value 33 in the final form, that is, the actual size and quality.
Print this image using 0 (that is, a green bias of -20, a red bias of 0, a blue bias of 0, and a brightness of +15). The saturation and contrast are not adjusted, so the saturation and contrast values are zero.

The above description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided by way of example only, and other modifications of the above embodiments and methods may be provided by the present invention. For example, although the generation of a two-dimensional array of thumbnail images has been described above, it should be apparent that the apparatus and method can be applied to three-dimensional and n-dimensional arrays. In addition, the refinement process can use a wide range of adjustment algorithms, as well as choosing two different variables for each thumbnail image process. Furthermore, the preferred system implemented by the general purpose computer of FIG. 1 is equally effective when implemented as a component of conventional processor-driven imaging devices. For example, the printer driver 165 can be incorporated into a processor-driven printer, scanner, facsimile machine, document copier, or other related machine. These processor-driven devices can be called dedicated computers, and each machine includes a CPU 120, an operating system 160, and the like. Also, the components of the present invention can be practiced by the use of programmed general purpose digital computers, the use of special purpose integrated circuits, or the use of networks of interconnected conventional components and circuits.

The embodiments described in the present specification have been presented for the purpose of explanation, and are not intended to be comprehensive or restrictive, and various changes and modifications can be made in view of the above teachings. . The invention is not subject to limitations other than the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred computer system having a printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer driver of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a driver setting value file in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a window displaying a two-dimensional array based on a thumbnail image user interface.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method 500 for generating a thumbnail image version of a page image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a window displaying a two-dimensional array of thumbnail images for an initial set of values.

FIG. 7: Two of the thumbnail images for the second set of values
The figure of the window which displayed the dimension array.

FIG. 8: 2 of thumbnail images for the third set of values
The figure of the window which displayed the dimension array.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 computer system 105 display device 110 input device 115 signal bus 160 operating system 165 printer driver 170 page image data 180 printer 220 page driver 230 journal file 240 journal file processor 250 "thumbnail" user interface 260 rendering driver 270 driver setting value file 400 window 410 thumbnail images

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A method for refining a printed image based on a plurality of printer characteristic variables comprising: (i)
A step of selecting one characteristic variable; (ii) a step of generating a range for the characteristic variable; and (iii) a set of thumbnail images in which each thumbnail image corresponds to one variable value of the generated range. Printing, (iv) selecting a preferred image from the printed thumbnail images, and storing a variable value corresponding to the selected image; (v)
The method has the steps of repeating the above steps (i) to (iv) until the variable values of the plurality of characteristic variables are stored, and (vi) creating a print image using the stored variable values. A method for refining a printed image, which is characterized in that 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic variable is selected from the set consisting of contrast, brightness, saturation, red bias, green bias and blue bias. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (ii) of generating the range includes an increment value (IM) equal to a range (B to A) divided by the size of the set, and A + IM.
And a starting value equal to / 2. 4. The method for refining a print image according to claim 1, wherein the method is executed by a processor incorporated in a printer. 5. The method for refining a print image according to claim 1, which is executed by a processor incorporated in a document copying machine. 6. The method for refining a print image according to claim 1, which is executed by a processor incorporated in a general-purpose computer. 7. A method for refining a print image based on a plurality of printer characteristic variables, the method comprising: (i) selecting a characteristic variable; and (ii) generating a range for the characteristic variable. iii) printing a set of thumbnail images in which each thumbnail image corresponds to one variable value of the generated range, and (iv) selecting a preferable image from the printed thumbnail images and selecting the selected image. Storing corresponding variable values; (v) repeating steps (i) and (ii) for the new characteristic variable;
(Vi) further repeating the printing of the step (iii) using the stored variable value of the step (iv), and (vii) repeating the steps (i) to (i) until a sufficiently refined print image is selected. A method for refining a printed image, comprising: (vi) repeating; and (viii) creating a printed image using stored variable values of the fully refined printed image. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein in step (i) the characteristic variables are contrast, brightness, saturation,
A refining method for a printed image, characterized by selecting from a set consisting of a red bias, a green bias and a blue bias. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step (ii) of generating the range includes an increment value (IM) equal to a range (B to A) divided by the size of the set, and A + IM.
A method for refining a printed image, the method comprising: generating a starting value equal to / 2. 10. The method for refining a print image according to claim 7, wherein the refining method is executed by a processor incorporated in the printer. 11. A method of calibrating a printed image according to claim 7, wherein step (iii) is repeated when step (iii) is repeated.
A method of refining a printed image, wherein at least one of the variable values stored in v) is additionally used during printing of the set of thumbnail images. 12. A system for refining a print image based on a plurality of printer characteristic variables, means for selecting a first characteristic variable (X) and a second characteristic variable (Y), and And means for generating a range for each of the second characteristic variables, and the generated X and Y
Means for printing an array of thumbnail images such that each thumbnail image corresponds to each pair value (X, Y) in the value range, and means for selecting a preferred image from the array of printed thumbnail images, Variable value (X
And Y), means for storing the printed image refining system. 13. The system according to claim 12, wherein:
A refining system for a printed image, wherein the means for printing is a color printer. 14. The system according to claim 12, wherein:
A printing image refining system having a general-purpose computer. 15. A system for refining a printed image, a refined characteristic value designating a desired characteristic of the printed image, and a printer driver for displaying a set of thumbnail images based on the refined characteristic value. And an input device for enabling a preferred thumbnail image to be selected from a set of thumbnail images, and for updating the refined characteristic value with the characteristic value of the preferred thumbnail image,
A processor connected to the memory and the input device;
A printed image refining system for printing a printed image using the refined characteristic values. 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein
A refining system for a print image, wherein the printer driver has a user interface capable of drawing a set of thumbnail images over a range of print characteristics. 17. The system according to claim 15, wherein
A print image refining system, wherein the memory has a spooler for storing print images waiting to be printed by the image forming apparatus. 18. The system according to claim 15, wherein
A print image refining system, wherein the printer driver has a rendering driver for generating pixel data corresponding to each of the thumbnail images. 19. The system according to claim 15, wherein
A print image refining system, wherein the printer driver has a page driver for compiling the print image into a page format. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein
A print image refining system, wherein the memory further has a journal file for storing print image data in a page format. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein
The print image refining system, wherein the printer driver further comprises a journal file processor for collecting print image data from the journal file and generating a print characteristic value range for the print characteristic. 22. In a program supply medium for supplying a computer program to a computer, (i) selecting a characteristic variable in the computer, (ii) generating a range for the characteristic variable, and (iii) generating the range A step of printing a set of thumbnail images in which each thumbnail image corresponds to one variable value of, and (iv) selecting a preferable image from the set of printed thumbnail images and setting a variable value corresponding to the selected image. The stage of remembering,
(V) repeating the above steps (i) to (iv) until a variable value for each of a plurality of printer characteristic variables is stored, and (vi) creating a print image using the stored variable values A program supply medium, wherein a program for executing the steps is carried in a form readable and understandable by a computer.